Author: staff
By Alessio Dell’Anna & video by Léo Arnoux Published on 29/07/2026 – 7:30 GMT+2 Spain is the EU country that’s been worst hit by this year’s wildfires, recording the highest share of burned land in Europe relative to its size in 2026. That’s more than 200,000 hectares, or around 0.4% of the country’s territory, according to the EU’s Earth observation programme Copernicus. On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that difficult hours lay ahead, after more than 90,000 people were forced to evacuate areas around Madrid and Ávila. Neighbouring Portugal is also facing a severe fire season, recording the EU’s second-highest proportion of…
FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to create a $20 billion (€17.5 billion) company running the World Cup with private investors – including the family of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – was announced on Tuesday, and immediately attacked by European football governing body UEFA. Infantino’s plans to form a commercial subsidiary, which would be called “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE), running competitions like the World Cup and Club World Cup was first reported by The Times of London. FIFA said in a statement FFE would raise up to $4.2 billion (€3.7 billion) later this year to help fund development…
Looking for a getaway where the hotel is every bit as memorable as the destination itself? Ranking guide La Liste has revealed the winners of its Discovery Gem Hotel Awards for 2026, recognising five little-known stays that are worth the booking. Self-styled as “the world’s most selective guide for discerning gourmets and travellers”, La Liste compiles its rankings using 370 expert sources across 200 countries and 7,200 establishments to create its guide of the world’s top stays. This year’s Discovery Gem Hotel Awards feature just two European properties. Here are the five that made the cut. Islas Secas Resort, Panama…
Poland’s once-dominant Law and Justice party has split, with former PM Mateusz Morawiecki breaking with longtime leader Jarosław Kaczyński and preparing to build a rival force on the right. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart examine whether the rupture offers current PM Donald Tusk a lifeline ahead of the 2027 election — and what it means in Brussels, where Morawiecki leads the European Conservatives and Reformists party. They also look at plans to close Belgium’s Charleroi Airport for several months in 2028, leaving more than 10 million annual passengers, thousands of workers and Ryanair up in the air. Plus: As Montenegro…
EU countries have extended temporary rules allowing platforms to detect child sexual abuse material online voluntarily until 2028. Lawmakers’ biggest battle is the permanent “chat control” law that could decide the future of private messaging in Europe. Watch the video.
Published on 29/07/2026 – 6:19 GMT+2 The US military said on Tuesday that it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabia’s forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days, shattering a brief pause in fighting. All Iranian missiles launched against American forces in the Middle East were intercepted, US Central Command said, adding that they “remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.” In announcing the strikes in Iraq, the US warned that further attacks on American troops or Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure risked additional action.…
Wer regiert die Welt – und was treibt sie an? In unserem regelmäßigen Machthaber-Spezial geht es um die mächtigsten und umstrittensten Politikerinnen und Politiker unserer Zeit. Wir zeigen, wie sie denken, entscheiden – und was das für uns bedeutet. Eine Politikerin oder Politiker, ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der Macht. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren. Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon…
Published on 29/07/2026 – 5:19 GMT+2 13 people were found dead as rescue efforts continued into Wednesday after a powerful earthquake struck part of Japan’s southwestern regions, according to a statement by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” said Takaichi. “We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can.” Many people were reported missing prompting major search and rescue efforts to take place. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu late on…
Images of the Bordeaux region, home to a large population and many popular vacation spots, engulfed by flames have deepened an already grim mood in the political class and among ordinary citizens alike. Macron made an impromptu visit to the area on Monday to meet with local firefighters and appealed for national unity as his government sought to contain criticism of its response. Le Pen herself struck a more restrained tone. In a post on X, she said the images had filled the country with horror, offered support to victims and evacuated families, and praised firefighters and civil-protection forces for…
Instead, Mélenchon wants France to strengthen ties with China as well as French-speaking countries in Africa, as well as South American countries. He sees the United States as an imperialist danger, while Germany — despite its turbulent relations with President Donald Trump — views the transatlantic relationship as paramount to its foreign policy. Mélenchon is opposed to Germany’s deeply held attachment to its free-market economic model and favors a planned economy instead. Mélenchon is also critical of Germany’s rearmament and the continued presence of U.S. nuclear weapons on its soil, which he said: “raise serious security concerns for neighboring countries.”…